NFSC Boss Ikpea Celebrates Life And Times Of Late Super Eagles Coach, Onigbinde
By Akeem Busari
The Nigerian football community was yesterday thrown into a mourning mood on the passing away of legendary football coach High Chief Festus Adegboyega Onigbinde, aged 88 years.
Reacting to the sad news, National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Ambassador (Rev).Samuel Ikpea, while describing the death of the Modakeke High Chief, as a huge loss to Nigeria and African football, the awards-winning and renowned football enthusiast, noted that the death of the former CAF football instructor and coach of IICC Shooting Stars, who also led the Super Eagles to the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan, should be a celebration of a life well lived.
“While the passing of High Chief Festus Onigbinde is painful, I want to implore all football fans, enthusiasts and administrators to see it as a life well-spent in the service to Nigeria, Africa and the development of the beautiful game,” Ikpea said.
He went on to advise the football authorities and particularly, the football coaches, to ensure that the burial of the first indigenous Super Eagles coach is turned into a celebration of the life and times of the revered late football tactician and teacher.
“Above everything, on behalf of Nigeria and Africa’s foremost football fans group, the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, we pray that God in His infinite mercies grant Baba Onigbinde eternal rest and also give his family and friends, the strength and fortitude to bear this great loss,” Ikpea prayed solemnly.
